(5/7) MY SELF-CARE FOR BIPOLAR

• I will always need to take medication. I will not be cured of bipolar one day (barring a drastic advance in medicine).
• I need to do routine lab work every couple months to ensure that my lithium level and thyroid function (which can affect mood disorders in those who also have a thyroid disorder, like me) stay within range.
• I function best with 9 hours of sleep each night. I usually get at least 8½, but 9 is the goal.
• I consume very little caffeine, since it can spur on manic symptoms. My body is used to not having it. Sometimes I want a cup of coffee, so I drink decaf. I know, the horror! There’s actually some pretty good decaf out there.
• I drink very little alcohol. I average about 1 drink a month in social settings. I have never been much of a drinker, so this is easy for me.
• I try to eat healthy (not easy for me!) and exercise a few times a week.
• I can’t watch the news or talk about politics in this day and age. This is hard since I really liked talking about politics in the past. Instead, I read all my news—I read headlines and decide whether I should read the article or sit this one out. I also subscribe to Countable so I don’t miss any votes in Congress.
• I am careful about the movies and TV shows I watch and the books I read.
• I limit the number of large events or gatherings that I attend. Being around big groups of people overly excites me but also causes social anxiety, and both of which can cause manic symptoms for me.
• I avoid interacting with people who are triggers for me, those who cause me extreme stress just to be around them. Even if I think I feel fine around these people, I’m not. My brain will demonstrate my distress soon enough. If I must attend an event where a trigger will be present, Dr. Cox and I plan a strategy, including how to adjust my medication in the days/weeks prior and what to do if the trigger interacts with me, among other things.
• I try not to take on too many activities or do too much in any given week. If I see that next week is filled with activities, I move what I can to a less-busy week.
• I try to keep my personal relationships with friends and family as stress-free as possible. If there’s a disagreement, I try to resolve it quickly and apologize.
• I purposely keep a small group of close friends. As an introvert, a small circle works well for me. I could never maintain close friendships with tons of people nor have the energy needed to do so.
• I have lost or ended friendships due to bipolar, either directly or indirectly. Sometimes a friendship with someone like me becomes too difficult for one side or the other. I understand that and am at peace with it. Being friends with someone with bipolar can be too taxing for some people. My actions at times might be hard to forgive, and my limitations might be hard to handle. At times I have withdrawn from friendships when I couldn’t handle the social interaction. I’ve learned a lot about having friends since my diagnosis, and I’d like to think I’m a better friend now than I was a decade ago and especially two decades ago.

In reading this list back over, it kind of sounds like my life isn’t much fun. Despite my limitations, I feel that my life is really full and fun the vast majority of the time. I laugh with Bryan and Pearson every single day, I adore living back in Pittsburgh near my family and working from home, I have long-time friends near and far who I cherish, and I have even made some new friends since moving back to Pittsburgh. All the work that goes into staying healthy is definitely worth it.